Friday

Hey lovelies! I hope you all have amazing NYE celebrations tonight! I'm having a little gathering but hopefully won't have too much of a rotten hang over tomorrow! I know most you liked the sequinned dress but I had a little try on last night and it's going to have to be this one - cinched in with a belt - I'll pose for a photo before I get too wasted ;) It really looks much better on than on the hanger.

I want to thank all of you who follow my blog or pop to it for a read now and again for your support this year. I started my blog back in May as my make up obsession is too much to handle for one person and needs to be shared! Thanks for all your sweet comments which I love reading - I get them sent to my Gmail account so I love looking at my iPhone if I'm out and about seeing what you've said! As a thank you to my readers I'm hosting a giveaway of the very scarce Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume III, so make sure to get your entry in by the 6th January closing date!

Checking Google Reader isn't the easiest thing to do if you're on the move and not all my readers have Google accounts, and if like me you follow a lot of beauty blogs, you can miss posts if you haven't checked it for a day or two. You you can also keep in touch and up-to-date with any new posts via my Bloglovin' account, Facebook page or Twitter. So if you have a burning question you can just shoot me a message on Facebook or Twitter!

Click below to follow via Bloglovin' - it's similar to Google Reader and there is a 'Beauty' category where I've found a whole world of amazing make up, beauty and fashion blogs. To sign up all you need to do is enter your email address and create a password...*simples*

I'm getting more into Twitter recently as it's such an easy way to connect with fellow beauty obsessives and find out about the latest products, offers and sales. My new posts are always linked on here too.

Last but not least, recently I've noticed that my blog looks crazy on Internet Explorer. There are huge gaps in the posts that aren't there on Google Chrome and everything just looks so messy! My friend Angel also has this issue with her blog and many others probably do as well. Things are a bit off on Firefox too but not as badly. The only good thing about IE is that my pictures don't appear with a border around them and I cannot seem to remove this on Google Chrome - any tips?

When Google Chrome first launched I jumped right on it and haven't looked back. It's revolutionised my internet browsing experience! If it crashes it brings you right back to the pages you were looking at and I love the bookmarks bar along the top and it has so many other advantages that I don't have time to go into here! I'd never use any other browser now, and the one time I went back onto Internet Explorer (I was at work) I got a deadly virus which shut down my computer and I was set back for a day!

So I really recommend you download Google Chrome - Click&Make-Up! certainly likes it a lot more!

I've been planning my 'Best Beauty Buys of 2010' for weeks now but there's so much to think about it'll take me another couple of days to get it up.

Thursday

I got this set of miniature OPI nail polishes at Ulta when I was in Miami in November. Considering I own gallons of nail polishes I've never any OPI before. The set was only $12.50 but you can get them for £12.15 from ASOS if you live in the UK. Funny how they forget the whole exchange rate mechanism when it comes to things like this!

I remembered to post about it as I was supposed to see Burlesque with a friend but at the last minute we switched to Love & Other Drugs.In total there are 12 shades in the Burlesque collection and you can get them in full sizes.

The colours are divine and Christmas in a bottle - tiny little bottles! I wore Rising Star for Christmas and will be applying The Show Must Go On for NYE.

Take The Stage ~ Rising Star ~ The Show Must Go On ~ Ali's Big Break

Take The Stage ~ a warm orange spotlight shimmer

Rising Star ~ lustrous glimmering gold

The Show Must Go On ~ deep pink shimmer

Ali's Big Break ~ glowing red shimmer

You can see how diddley they are next to my Maybelline lipstick...

The Show Must Go On in the bottle is a pretty spot on dupe for MAC's Bad Fairy from the Venomous Villains collection...

On the nail however, there is some difference, but once you build up 3 -4 coats or if you use a deep red as an undercoat, they do look similar.

Below is one coat of each - not great for a high end product - you definitely would need time to work on getting the colour up!

Left: Bad Fairy, Right: The Show Must Go On

I did the old switcharoo, so TSMGN, Left and Bad Fairy, Right

Did you pick up anything from the Burlesque collection? Have you seen the film and would you recommend it?

Wednesday

I need your advice again...which dress of the three below should I wear for NYE? I do have other 'prettier' and glitzier dresses, but right now, I'm too chubs for them, so this is all I got!

The first two I picked up from eBay and am not happy at all that they are completely bloody see through! I saw Topshop Princess wearing the one on the left on her blog and thought I MUST HAVE THAT DRESS and was shocked to discover it's only from good old Primark! The second one I bought first from eBay as it was kinda similar to the long sleeved one and would have done the job if I'd missed out on the other. I've been driven demented the past few days however looking for a plain black slip to wear underneath to preserve my modesty!

So, FIGHT!

Or should I go all out and just wear full on sequins?! This dress was about £15 in Primark three years ago and I did wear it for NYE then...

Tuesday

As I get older, it's becoming less important for me to have something to open on Christmas day if I know that it will probably be marked down by at least 50% in the sales the next day. I've been stung a few times by frenzied spending on tat at the Christmas sales, but this year I actually did pretty well and thought I might as well share a few tips for successful sales shopping I've picked up over the years...

1. Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes and if you are going to an indoor shopping centre like Westfield, Blue Water or Lakeside don't wear a really heavy coat, just a light jacket with a nice warm scarf, gloves and hat to get you to and from home warm. If you're driving leave your overcoat in the car.

2. Bring a bag that lets you have your hands free to root through the racks as stock is often jumbled up and you will have to hunt for your size. Pack a drink, a snack like nuts and lipbalm. Normally I wear a small satchel but this year used a small backpack. A light weight larger backpack can also be useful to stow away purchases - I was on a roll the other day at Westfield but after a few shops my arms were laden down and I had to head home (probably a good thing for my wallet!)

3. Make a list of all the shops you want to visit and what items you want from each shop. This can only be done if you know beforehand exactly what you want, as I've said, going to the sales on the off-chance of seeing something you like is a dangerous game. A list will save time as you won't be going to and from shops and you won't miss anything. If you know the layout of the shopping centre or road you can even plan your route.

4. If you have the time before Christmas, do a reccie online or in stores to determine the things you actually really like and want. Try them on to see how they fit - this is particularly important for footwear. Then watch like a hawk for the online sale, or get down to the shop as early as you can on the morning of the sale. One of the worst things about sales shopping is finding an item you love but realising they don't have it in anywhere near your size.

5. Impulse purchases rarely ever work out because unless you catch the sales on the first day, it's mostly tat left over, and places like Next order in a whole pile of ugly, unfashionable stock especially for their sale. When you're wrestling cheek to jowl with other eager bargain hunters it's too easy to get whipped up into a frenzy and buy something just so you feel it wasn't a wasted trip. If you are just out for a browse, set a budget.

6. If you received presents for Christmas which you see being reduced down drastically in the sale, you can always repurchase the item at the sale price and if you have the receipt for the full price, take back one of the items for a refund. I'd only recommend this if you are very close to whoever got you the gift, like parents of boyfriend as you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings! In the US, many stores automatically will refund you the difference between full and sale price if the item goes on sale within a certain number of days of you buying it at full price.

7. If you've been lucky enough to nab the item you want, don't queue at the most obvious till. I picked up a few bits from M&S the other day and every checkout had a line a mile long, even the mens' section (usually the best place to go as there's never a queue!) so I headed downstairs to the food hall and got served right away, saving at least 20 minutes!

8. Make sure you get and keep your receipt as those inevitable impulse purchases may not look so great once you get them home. Always check with the sales assistant that you will be able to get a full monetary refund if you take it back as many stores only offer exchange only or store credit. I'm looking at you Office and Bench ¬_¬. This may make you think twice about buying the item.

I had a pretty low key Christmas, just me and mumma. My boyfriend was across the Irish Sea spending it with his folks...one day I hope we will spend it together :) However, Santa must have felt sorry for me and I had lots of lovely presents to play with! In past Christmases I used to get a lot of new clothes and shoes, but none of that this year, just beauty, beauty storage and electricals and a good dollop of Hello Kitty madness!

Presenting the gorgeous and famous Rouge Noir and equally beautiful Miami Peach.

I waited so long for this Juicy Couture perfume...like waiting for Christmas har har! My lovely boyfriend finally hooked me up with the gift set!

I still can't work out how to open the charm however so any tips are welcomed!

The bottle and the fragrance are just divine, and if you think Juicy Couture is tacky, which I certainly did, the scent is a million miles away from your expectations!

My mum got me these make up books and so far so good, although I think Rae Morris is nuts to advocate applying foundation AFTER doing your eyes. I just can't see how that would work AT ALL! I'll do a fuller post on these, and the Bobbi Brown one I got for my bday soon.

More Chanel! I've wanted this perfume for yonks so I decided to treat myself :) I'm not loving the bottle as I do love the all glass ones but I would have had to get a much bigger one and I have too much perfume as it is.

I also got this one for myself - thankfully I only paid £15 for it at Portobello Market...it may be off the back of a lorry, but it seems pretty legit!

My girlies mates did Secret Santa this year (recession n'all ya' know) How did I not already own this palette?! There's a freakin' kitty cat on the front and the colours are right up my street! I heart Urban Decay and have a feeling this palette will usurp my Sleek Storm for pride of place in my travel make up bag from now on!

My mum got me these goodies. Bourjois Healthy Mix has been my favourite foundation since I tried it back in June and I'm excited about the pale colour of the Max Factor one...detailed review soon.

My lovely cousin sent me this set of travel size toiletries, I love them as they're just the right size for a 2 week break!

New make up brush holder and palette holder from Paperchase - I always loved stationery items but being able to use them to hold make up is even better!

I've wanted an iPod dock for ages and this is my perfect one - Hello Kitty! The sound is actually amazing as there's a speaker on the bottom too. The bass can get really strong. It's really funny to hear a bleak Smiths song blasting out of this cute thing! I can't wait to bust it out at a house party and have people thinking WTF?! but then being impressed by it's ghetto-blasterness! Kev got me this along with the cute headphones.

I actually got a blue set of drawers with a rip-off Cath Kitson floral design but decided to swap it for the cupcake set as it matches my room better. This will be my new jewellery storage.

My mum got me the earrings on the left and my lovely workmate got me the cute earrings on the right and cupcake wipes, I can't wait to wear them! They're so me :)

The mumma got me this amazingly soft La Senza robe which I will live in until March and a snug new cover for my iPhone - how cute! And the white dots provide amazing grip as I'm a bit clutzy.

Cute diary from Kev - is that Hello Kitty on a Flow Rider on my birthday month?! I think there's definitely a theme to my gifts and yes, I probably am about 21 years too old for Hello Kitty!

I'm at least 16 years too old for this Beauty & The Beast DVD, but look, it's for my kids, if I ever get around to having them! Disney only ever releases 'official' versions of classic films every millienium so having missed out on it last time, I HAD to have it! This film is the backdrop of my childhood. My other gorgeous workmate got me this fabulous Twilight mug - this definitely is not going anywhere near a dishwasher or microwave! And no chocolate is good enough for me to rip Jacob and Edward's lovely faces!

I really needed a nice change purse and this one is perfect, I love the bow! Also from lovely workmate :)

Room scent diffuser - it smells just like Christmas!

I couldn't work out what this was for a while - I actually tried to put it on like a bracelet! Doh! But it's actually for hanging your bag from a table safely out of the reach of thieving hands! This is perfect for me as I get completely paranoid whenever I'm out since I had my bag snatched on my birthday a few years ago :'(

Best game ever from Kev...I get horribly competitive when playing it - you wouldn't want to be playing against or even WITH me. Monica from friends was a pussycat by comparison...I really don't know why he let himself in for this!

Gift to myself...I actually spotted it walking home through Portobello Market and the dude gave it to me for a tenner - cheaper than Amazon - even though it's all new like, and was wrapped in shiny plastic :) Don't know how much I'd cook from it though - I thought the recipes would be a bit more practical as they involve quite a lot of different ingredients which isn't ideal when you just want to do a quick whip around Tesco after work for the bits you need before cooking...

I also picked this up for myself as it has the layout I love which normally only Moleskin diaries have - full week on the left page and a clear page for notes/to do list on the right. It's so pretty! This will be my planner for what I hope to do and the HK one will be my 'diary' of what I actually d0...

My other lovely workmate got me my very own prince for Christmas...sadly I left him in a cup filled with neon green liquid in a Soho bar...I just hope I didn't trigger a bomb scare. I really miss him and hope he got the chance to grow up big and strong and find a lovely girl. Kev wouldn't have been too happy about him anyway!

I tried to bribe my mum with vast sums of money to get a real tree for Christmas to no avail...Argos plastic 5ft it is then :( Even though I promised to vacuum up an dead pines...

So I'm feeling very lucky, punk! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and got everything you wanted!